Switch for automobile signaling apparatus



Aug. 6, 1929. c. J. DlEHL SWITCH FOR AUTOMOBILE SIGNALING APPARATUSFiled Dec. 15. 1927 INVENTOR Mar/e5 cl. fi/kfi/ ATTdRNEY Patented Aug.6, 1929.

UNITED. STATES CHARLES J. DIEHL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SWITCH FOR AUTOMOBILE SIGNALING APPARATUS.

Application filed December 13, 1927. Serial No. 239,762.

This invention relates to an automobile signaling apparatus whichenables a driver to signal to drivers of other automobiles to indicateto such drivers the change in course about to be pursued.

The principal object of the present invention is the provision of anapparatus of the indicated character which will be of simplifiedconstruction, which will be reliable in operation, which may be readilyinstalled, and which will be inexpensive of manu facture.

The nature of the invention and its distinguishing features .andadvantages will appear when the following specification is read inconnection with the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is asectional view illustrating the control switch of the apparatus and themanner of mounting the same.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1, looking inthe direction indicated by the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the rear signal lamp casing with aportion broken away and illustrating certain features thereof.

Fig. 4 is a wiring diagram of the apparatus.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 4 of the drawing it will beapparent that the apparatus of the present invention will include twoelectric circuits 10 and 11. Each of the circuits 10 and 11 includes arear signal electric lamp 12 and a front pilot electric lamp 13connected in series with the lamp 12. A control switch 14 serves forselectively closing and opening the circuits 10 and 11 to light thelamps 12 and 13 in each circuit 10 and 1.1 and to put them out. Currentis supplied to the circuits 10 and 11 by a battery 15.

The apparatus includes a casing 16 which will be made of metal. Thecasing 16 may be of any preferred size and shape and will be attached inany suitable manner at the rear of the car. The casing 16 has a centralpartition 17 which divides the easing into two separate compartments 18.The signal lamps 12 are arranged respectively in the compartments 18 andare supported from the rear wall, as shown most clearly in Fig. 3. Thecasing has a removable cover plate 19 which may be held in place in anysuitable manner, such as by the use of screws 20 which are screwed intolugs on the main part of the casing. The cover plate 19 has coloredtranslucent indicators 21 each consisting of a piece of glass orcelluloid colored red arranged adjacent an arrow-shaped opening in thecover plate 19. The said indicators 21 indicate t-left and right turns.It will be apparent that the lamp 12 in one of the compartments 18, whenlighted, will illuminate the indicator 21 to indicate a left turn,whereas, the other lamp 12 in the other com 'iartment 18. when lighted,will illuminate the other indicator 21 to indicate a right turn.

The apparatus also includes a casing 22, which in the present instance,is adapted to be attached to the steering column of the automobile,indicated at 23. The casing 22 will be made of metal, and is of two substantially similar parts 24and 25. Each of the parts 24 and 25 has asemicircular portion, and these semicircular portions embrace the column23. The parts 24 and 25 are held together by suitable fastening elementssuch as the screw bolts 26. The pilot lamps 13 hereinbefore mentionedare secured to the part 24 of the casing. Each lamp 13 will include ared bulb. The control switch 14 hereinbefore referred to is positionedon the part 25 of the casing 22. The switch 14 includes an element 27 ofin sulating material which is mounted for turning movement on on arbor28 secured to the side wall, of the part 25. The said element 27 has amanipulating portion 29 which projects through a slot formed by cuttingout the meeting portions of the parts 24 and 25. Contacts 30 and 31 aresecured to the element 27 adjacent the circumferential edge thereof,there being a notch 32 in the circumferential. edge adjacent each of thecontacts 30 and 31. The contacts 30 and 31 are respectively connected inseries with the circuits 10 and 11. The switch 14 also includes acontact 33 which is formed on a spring member 34 projecting from aninsulator 35 secured to the part 25 of the casing. The conductorsleading respectively from the contacts 30 and 31 are connected withbinding posts or the like on the base 35. These conductors aresufficiently flexible to allow the element 27 to have the proper turningmovement. The conductors are also connected respectively with the lam s13. as shown most clearly in Fig. 2. ese conductors or wires areindicated at 36. The circumferential edge of the element 27 has thenotches 32 and a notch 37 between the notches 32. The contact 33 isadapted to enter the notch 37 to hold the element 27 in a neutralposition in which both circuits 10 and 11 will be open.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that when the portion 29 ismanipulated to the left the contact 30 will be brought into engagementwith the contact 33, which will spring into the notch 32, and as aconsequence the circuit 10 will be closed thereby lighting the lamps 12and 13 in said circuit. The lamp 12 will illuminate the indicator 21related thereto to indicate to drivers of automobiles at the rear thatthe signaling car is about to turn to the left. lVhen the manipulator 29is moved to the right the circuit 10 will be opened thereby putting outthe lamps 12 and 13 in the circuit 10. \Vhen the portion 29 is moved tothe right with the element 27 in its neutral position the contact 31will be brought into engagement with the contact 33, and as aconsequence the circuit 11 will be closed, and the lamps 12 and 13 inthe circuit 11 will be lighted. The lamp 12 of the circuit ll willilluminate its related indicator 21 indicatng that the automobile isabout to be turned to the right. The pilot lamps 13 serve as telltalesto indicate to the driver whether or not the rear lamps 12 are beinglighted. The contact 33 as arranged on the spring member 34 serves with37 toreleasably hold the element 27 in the different positions to videdwith a contact, said rotatory member being provided with spaced contacts011 a circular edge thereof, there being a notch i in each contact onsaid edge, the spring member being so positioned that its contact willbe received in the notch in either onev of the other contacts by therotatory movement of the rotatory member, for the pur pose of closing acircuit, and also to prevent unintentional movement of the rotatorymember and consequent opening of-the C11- cuit, and said circular edgehaving anotch between the contacts on said edge which receives thecontact on said spring member by the rotatory movement of the-rotatorymember to releasably hold the rotatory member in a neutral circuitopening position.

Signed at New York in the county of New York, and State of New York,this 12th day of December, A, D. 1927.

CHARLES J. DIEHL.

